Method for melt pool monitoring

ABSTRACT

A method of controlling a manufacturing process in which directed energy selectively melts material, forming a melt pool. The method includes: generating an image having an array of individual image elements, the image including measurement, for each image element, of two or more physical properties from the group including: color, emission frequency, and sheen, the measurements collectively indicating presence of: liquid phase, melting, or incipient melting; from the measurements, mapping a boundary of the melt pool, wherein for each of the measurements that indicate liquid phase, melting, or incipient melting, corresponding image elements are defined to be inside the boundary, and wherein for each of the measurements that do not indicate liquid phase, melting, or incipient melting, the corresponding image elements are defined to be outside of the boundary; and controlling at least one aspect of the additive manufacturing process with reference to the boundary.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to additive manufacturing and related processes, and more particularly to apparatus and methods for melt pool monitoring and process control in additive manufacturing.

Additive manufacturing is a process in which material is built up layer-by-layer to form a component. Additive manufacturing is limited primarily by the position resolution of the machine and not limited by requirements for providing draft angles, avoiding overhangs, etc. as required by casting. Additive manufacturing is also referred to by terms such as “layered manufacturing,” “reverse machining,” “direct metal laser melting” (DMLM), and “3-D printing”. Such terms are treated as synonyms for purposes of the present invention.

One type of additive manufacturing machine is referred to as a “powder bed” machine and includes a build chamber that encloses a mass of powder which is selectively fused by a laser to form a workpiece.

One problem with prior art additive manufacturing machines is that they operate in an open loop environment and cannot report back to an operator the stability of the process being applied. The systems in place to determine health of the process occur in quality steps after the build has finished. When issues are caught there can be work in progress that is scrapped due to machine issues that were undetected till the ex post facto quality system could catch them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This problem is addressed by a method of imaging a melt pool during a manufacturing process and characterizing the morphology and dynamics of the melt pool over time.

According to one aspect of the technology described herein, a method is described of controlling an additive manufacturing process in which a directed energy source is used to selectively melt material to form a workpiece, forming a melt pool in the process of melting. The method includes: using an imaging apparatus to generate an image of the melt pool comprising an array of individual image elements, the image including a measurement of, for each of the individual image elements, of two or more physical properties selected from the group including: image element color, emission frequency, and image element sheen, wherein the measurements are collectively indicative of the presence of at least one of a liquid phase, melting, or incipient melting; from the measurements, mapping a melt pool boundary of the melt pool, wherein for each of the measurements that indicate the presence of at least one of a liquid phase, melting, or incipient melting, the corresponding image elements are defined to constitute a location inside the melt pool boundary, and wherein for each of the measurements that do not indicate the presence of at least one of a liquid phase, melting, or incipient melting, the corresponding image elements are defined to constitute a location outside of the melt pool boundary; and controlling at least one aspect of the additive manufacturing process with reference to the melt pool boundary.

According to another aspect of the technology described herein, a method is described of controlling an additive manufacturing process in which a directed energy source is used to selectively melt material to form a workpiece, forming a melt pool in the process of melting. The method includes: using an imaging apparatus to generate an image of the melt pool comprising an array of individual image elements, the image including a measurement of, for each of the individual image elements, a Z-height; and from the measurements, mapping a melt pool boundary of the melt pool, wherein for a group of the measurements collectively indicating the presence of a meniscus shape, the corresponding image elements are defined to constitute a location inside the melt pool boundary; and controlling at least one aspect of the additive manufacturing process with reference to the melt pool boundary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic, partially-sectioned front elevation view of an exemplary additive manufacturing machine;

FIG. 2 is a schematic, partially-sectioned side elevation view of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic top plan view graphic of an image of a powder bed including a melt pool;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of a melt pool image;

FIG. 5 is a schematic top plan view graphic of a melt pool template.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views, FIG. 1 illustrates schematically an additive manufacturing machine 10 suitable for carrying out an additive manufacturing method. The machine 10 and its operation are as representative example of a “powder bed machine”.

It will be understood that the machine 10 is merely used as an example to provide context for describing the principles of the present invention. The principles described herein are applicable to other configurations of powder bed machines, as well as to other types of additive manufacturing machines and related processes. More generally, the principles described herein would be applicable to any manufacturing process in which a melt pool is generated. Nonlimiting examples of such processes include electron-beam melting (“EBM”), directed energy deposition (“DED”), and laser welding. The term “manufacturing process” could also encompass repair processes where components are built up or joined together using a technique that generates a melt pool.

Basic components of the machine 10 include a table 12, a powder supply 14, a recoater 16, an overflow container 18, a build platform 20 surrounded by a build chamber 22, a directed energy source 24, and a beam steering apparatus 26, all surrounded by a housing 28. Each of these components will be described in more detail below.

The table 12 is a rigid structure defining a planar worksurface 30. The worksurface 30 is coplanar with and defines a virtual workplane. In the illustrated example it includes a build opening 32 communicating with the build chamber 22 and exposing the build platform 20, a supply opening 34 communicating with the powder supply 14, and an overflow opening 36 communicating with the overflow container 18.

The recoater 16 is a rigid, laterally-elongated structure that lies on the worksurface 30. It is connected to an actuator 38 operable to selectively move the recoater 16 along the worksurface 30. The actuator 38 is depicted schematically in FIG. 1, with the understanding devices such as pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, ballscrew or linear electric actuators, and so forth, may be used for this purpose.

The powder supply 14 comprises a supply container 40 underlying and communicating with the supply opening 34, and an elevator 42. The elevator 42 is a plate-like structure that is vertically slidable within the supply container 40. It is connected to an actuator 44 operable to selectively move the elevator 42 up or down. The actuator 44 is depicted schematically in FIG. 1, with the understanding that devices such as pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, ballscrew or linear electric actuators, and so forth, may be used for this purpose. When the elevator 42 is lowered, a supply of powder “P” of a desired composition (for example, metallic, ceramic, and/or organic powder) may be loaded into the supply container 40. When the elevator 42 is raised, it exposes the powder P above the worksurface 30. Other types of powder supplies may be used; for example, powder may be dropped into the build chamber 22 by an overhead device (not shown).

The build platform 20 is a plate-like structure that is vertically slidable below the build opening 32. It is connected to an actuator 46 operable to selectively move the build platform 20 up or down. The actuator 46 is depicted schematically in FIG. 1, with the understanding that devices such as pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, ballscrew or linear electric actuators, and so forth, may be used for this purpose. When the build platform 20 is lowered into the build chamber 22 during a build process, the build chamber 22 and the build platform 20 collectively surround and support a mass of powder P along with any components being built. This mass of powder is generally referred to as a “powder bed”, and this specific category of additive manufacturing process may be referred to as a “powder bed process”.

The overflow container 18 underlies and communicates with the overflow opening 36, and serves as a repository for excess powder P.

The directed energy source 24 may comprise any device operable to generate a beam of suitable power and other operating characteristics to melt and fuse the powder P during the build process, described in more detail below. For example, the directed energy source 24 may be a laser. Other directed-energy sources such as electron beam guns are suitable alternatives to a laser.

The beam steering apparatus 26 may include one or more mirrors, prisms, and/or lenses and provided with suitable actuators, and arranged so that a beam “B” from the directed energy source 24 can be focused to a desired spot size and steered to a desired position in plane coincident with the worksurface 30. For purposes of convenient description, this plane may be referred to as a X-Y plane, and a direction perpendicular to the X-Y plane is denoted as a Z-direction (X, Y, and Z being three mutually perpendicular directions). The beam B may be referred to herein as a “build beam”.

The housing 28 serves to isolate and protect the other components of the machine 10. During the build process described above, the housing 28 is provided with a flow of an appropriate shielding gas which, among other functions, excludes oxygen from the build environment. To provide this flow the machine 10 may be coupled to a gas flow apparatus 54, seen in FIG. 2. The exemplary gas flow apparatus 54 includes, in serial fluid flow communication, a variable-speed fan 56, a filter 58, an inlet duct 60 communicating with the housing 28, and a return duct 64 communicating with the housing 28. All of the components of the gas flow apparatus 54 are interconnected with suitable ducting and define a gas flow circuit in combination with the housing 28.

The composition of the gas used may similar to that used as shielding gas for conventional welding operations. For example, gases such as nitrogen, argon, or mixtures thereof may be used. Any convenient source of gas may be used. For example, if the gas is nitrogen, a conventional nitrogen generator 66 may be connected to the gas flow apparatus 54. Alternatively, the gas could be supplied using one or more pressurized cylinders 68.

An exemplary basic build process for a workpiece W using the apparatus described above is as follows. The build platform 20 is moved to an initial high position. The build platform 20 is lowered below the worksurface 30 by a selected layer increment. The layer increment affects the speed of the additive manufacturing process and the resolution of the workpiece W. As an example, the layer increment may be about 10 to 100 micrometers (0.0004 to 0.004 in.). Powder “P” is then deposited over the build platform 20 for example, the elevator 42 of the supply container 40 may be raised to push powder through the supply opening 34, exposing it above the worksurface 30. The recoater 16 is moved across the worksurface to spread the raised powder P horizontally over the build platform 20. Any excess powder P drops through the overflow opening 36 into the overflow container 18 as the recoater 16 passes from left to right. Subsequently, the recoater 16 may be moved back to a starting position. The leveled powder P may be referred to as a “build layer” and the exposed upper surface thereof may be referred to as a “build surface”.

The directed energy source 24 is used to melt a two-dimensional cross-section or layer of the workpiece W being built. The directed energy source 24 emits a beam “B” and the beam steering apparatus 26 is used to steer a focal spot of the build beam B over the exposed powder surface in an appropriate pattern. A small portion of exposed layer of the powder P surrounding the focal spot, referred to herein as a “melt pool” 52 is heated by the build beam B to a temperature allowing it to sinter or melt, flow, and consolidate. As an example, the melt pool 52 may be on the order of 100 micrometers (0.004 in.) wide. This step may be referred to as fusing the powder P.

The build platform 20 is moved vertically downward by the layer increment, and another layer of powder P is applied in a similar thickness. The directed energy source 24 again emits a build beam B and the beam steering apparatus 26 is used to steer the focal spot of the build beam B over the exposed powder surface in an appropriate pattern. The exposed layer of the powder P is heated by the build beam B to a temperature allowing it to sinter or melt, flow, and consolidate both within the top layer and with the lower, previously-solidified layer.

This cycle of moving the build platform 20, applying powder P, and then directed energy fusing the powder P is repeated until the entire workpiece W is complete.

The additive manufacturing machine 10 is provided with an imaging apparatus 70 which is operable to produce a digital image of the melt pool 52 comprising an array of individual image elements, i.e., pixels for a 2-D array or voxels for a 3-D array. An example of such an image 72 is shown in FIG. 3, with image elements 74. The imaging apparatus 70 is operable to produce, for each image element, a measurement of at least one physical property. The measurement may include at least one scalar value such as brightness, intensity, frequency, temperature, or Z-height. Alternatively, the imaging apparatus 70 may produce a signal representative of multiple factors, for example RGB color values. The imaging apparatus 70 is also operable to produce relative or absolute positional information for each imaging element. For example, the output of the imaging apparatus 70 for a particular image element 74 may be in the format X, Y, T where X equals X-position, Y equals Y-position, and T equals temperature.

Nonlimiting examples of suitable imaging apparatus 70 include photodiode arrays, photomultiplier tube (“PMT”) arrays, digital cameras (e.g. CMOS or CCD), or optical coherence tomography (“OCT”) apparatus. Optical coherence tomography (“OCT”) is a known technique which is capable of providing Z-axis information as well as X and Y information (e.g., “3-D information”). In the illustrated example, the imaging apparatus 70 is depicted as a digital camera placed so that its field-of-view encompasses the melt pool 52. This particular example shows an “on-axis” device which shares the same optical path as the build beam B.

Alternatively, the imaging apparatus 70 could be mounted “off-axis”, i.e. outside the optical axis of the build beam B. The imaging apparatus 70 may be statically mounted or it may be mounted so that it can be driven by one or more actuators (not shown) in order to track the position of the melt pool 52.

The imaging apparatus 70 may be configured to acquire a series of static images at regular intervals, or it may operate continuously.

The melt pool images 72 create a base dataset on which analysis may be performed. The next step is to determine a boundary of the melt pool 52 based on the image 72 produced by the imaging apparatus 70.

The process of determining a boundary of the melt pool 52 may be carried out using appropriately-programmed software running on one or more processors embodied in a device such as a microcomputer (not shown). Such software may be implemented on a device separate from the machine 10, or it may be incorporated into the machine 10, for example the software may be run by the controller described below.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 3, a portion of the powder bed P is shown with a melt pool 52 superimposed thereon. The melt pool 52 is shown having a peripheral melt pool boundary 76 or closed perimeter, identified by the shaded image elements 74, which is a demarcation between the interior of the melt pool 52 and the exterior of the melt pool 52.

Various criteria may be used for determining the location of the melt pool boundary 76. In one example, a threshold value may be established, and the melt pool boundary 76 may include any image elements which are equal to the threshold value. For example, FIG. 4 shows a simplified representation of a portion of the melt pool 52 in which each image element 74 is assigned a scalar value corresponding to sensed data. For example, temperature data might be represented on a 0-10 scale. In this example, the threshold value is “4” (this is an arbitrary value used as an example).

Accordingly, each image element 74 returning the value 4 is declared or defined to constitute a portion of the melt pool boundary 76. Any image element 74 returning a value greater than 4 is declared or defined to be inside the melt pool 52, and any image element 74 returning a value less than 4 is declared or defined to be outside the melt pool 52.

The threshold value may include a range or band of values, for the purpose of resolving ambiguity. For example, in the above-described situation where temperature is represented on a 0-10 scale, the threshold value representing inclusion in the melt pool boundary 76 might be any value greater than 3.0 and less than 5.0.

In practice, the range of sensor values and the threshold value or threshold range may be stored in a calibration table which is then referenced by the software to evaluate the melt pool 52 during machine operation. The values for the calibration table may be determined analytically or empirically.

The criteria for determining the location of the melt pool boundary 76 may be based on a simple scalar value in a 2-D image as described in the above example, for example temperature, image element intensity, etc.

Alternatively, another 2-D property or combination of properties such as image element color, emission frequency, or image element sheen may be used as a criteria for determining the location of the melt pool boundary 76. Such properties are combination of properties may be more directly indicative of the presence of a difference in phase (liquid versus solid), or of melting or incipient melting. As an example, a certain material with a given melting point can be characterized by the sensing system to calibrate the appropriate values to consider melted versus unmelted material. The boundary is then tied to correlated material properties, namely the liquid versus solid phases.

Alternatively, a 3-D property or combination of properties may be used as a criteria for determining location of the melt pool boundary 76. For example, a height increase or decrease relative to the surrounding material may be indicative of the presence of the difference in phase (liquid versus solid), or of melting or incipient melting. A further example would use the presence of the meniscus in the 3-D data by means of a topographic transition in the data to segregate the data into melted and unmelted regions.

The output of the boundary determination process described above is a digital map of the melt pool boundary 76. The process of determining the location of the melt pool boundary 76 may be referred to as “mapping the melt pool boundary”.

Once the melt pool boundary 76 is established, one or more geometric constructs may be used to analyze the boundary and determine the quality of the melt pool 52.

In one example, the melt pool 52 may be compared to a melt pool template 78, shown schematically in FIG. 5 The melt pool template 78 is made up of image elements 80 and includes a predetermined template boundary 82 which is representative of a known good process. If the melt pool boundary 76 of the melt pool 52 differs from the template boundary 82, it may be declared to be unacceptable.

In one example, software may be used to compute a percentage of image elements 74 of the melt pool image 72 matching the melt pool template 78. A threshold required matching percentage may be established. If at least the required matching percentage is not met, the melt pool boundary 76 of the melt pool 52 may be declared to be unacceptable.

The melt pool quality determination may be repeated for each individual melt pool image 72 as they are acquired.

A melt pool monitoring process may be incorporated into the build process described above. Generally stated, the monitoring process includes using the imaging apparatus 70 described above to acquire melt pool images 72, evaluating the melt pool 52 and then adjusting one or more process parameters as necessary. As used herein, “process parameters” can refer to any controllable aspect of the machine 10.

The monitoring process may include establishing one or more predetermined limits for the comparison between the melt pool 52 and the melt pool template 78, referred to herein as “melt pool limits”, for example, a minimum percentage match with the template.

The monitoring process may include taking a discrete action in response to one or more melt pool limits being exceeded, such as providing a visual or audible alarm to a local or remote operator.

The monitoring process may include stopping the build process in response to one or more melt pool limits being exceeded. This is another example of a discrete action.

The monitoring process may include real-time control of one or more process parameters, such as directed energy source power level or beam scan velocity, using a method such as: statistical process control, feedforward control, feedback control using proportional, proportional-integral, or proportional-integral-derivative control logic, neural network control algorithms, or fuzzy logic control algorithms.

The monitoring method may include monitoring of the condition or “health” of the machine 10. Melt pool measurements may be measured and stored during several build cycles and compared between cycles. For example, a change in melt pool consistency between cycles could indicate machine miscalibration or degradation. Corrective action could take the form of machine maintenance or repairs, or modification of process parameters in subsequent builds to compensate for machine degradation.

The operation of the apparatus described above including the machine 10 and imaging apparatus 70 may be controlled, for example, by software running on one or more processors embodied in one or more devices such as a programmable logic controller (“PLC”) or a microcomputer (not shown). Such processors may be coupled to the sensors and operating components, for example, through wired or wireless connections. The same processor or processors may be used to retrieve and analyze sensor data, for statistical analysis, and for feedback control. FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a controller 84 which includes one or more processors operable to control the machine 10.

The method described herein has several advantages over the prior art. In particular, direct analysis of the melt pool is a key indicator of the stability of the manufacturing process and ultimately of the conformity of workpieces to geometric, metallurgical and mechanical requirements.

Establishing melt pool stability using the method described herein can also reduce machine setup costs through validation of the process to a known good standard, reduce existing material development for additive, reduce application development and be an enabler for novel alloy for additive development.

The foregoing has described an apparatus and method for melt pool monitoring in a manufacturing process. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of controlling an additive manufacturing process in which a directed energy source is used to selectively melt material to form a workpiece, forming a melt pool in the process of melting, the method comprising: using an imaging apparatus to generate an image of the melt pool comprising an array of individual image elements, the image including a measurement of, for each of the individual image elements, of two or more physical properties selected from the group including: image element color, emission frequency, and image element sheen, wherein the measurements are collectively indicative of the presence of at least one of a liquid phase, melting, or incipient melting; from the measurements, mapping a melt pool boundary of the melt pool, wherein for each of the measurements that indicate the presence of at least one of a liquid phase, melting, or incipient melting, the corresponding image elements are defined to constitute a location inside the melt pool boundary, and wherein for each of the measurements that do not indicate the presence of at least one of a liquid phase, melting, or incipient melting, the corresponding image elements are defined to constitute a location outside of the melt pool boundary; and controlling at least one aspect of the additive manufacturing process with reference to the melt pool boundary.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the melt pool boundary to a template boundary of a melt pool template.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of controlling includes taking a discrete action in response to the comparison exceeding one or more predetermined melt pool limits.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the discrete action is stopping the additive manufacturing process.
 5. The method of claim 3 wherein the discrete action is providing a visual or audible alarm to a local or remote operator.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of controlling includes changing at least one process parameter of the additive manufacturing process.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the controlled process parameter includes at least one of: directed energy source power level and beam scan velocity.
 8. A method of controlling an additive manufacturing process in which a directed energy source is used to selectively melt material to form a workpiece, forming a melt pool in the process of melting, the method comprising: using an imaging apparatus to generate an image of the melt pool comprising an array of individual image elements, the image including a measurement of, for each of the individual image elements, a Z-height; and from the measurements, mapping a melt pool boundary of the melt pool, wherein for a group of the measurements collectively indicating the presence of a meniscus shape, the corresponding image elements are defined to constitute a location inside the melt pool boundary; and controlling at least one aspect of the additive manufacturing process with reference to the melt pool boundary.
 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising repeating in a cycle the steps of depositing and fusing to build up the workpiece in a layer-by layer fashion.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the measurement for each of the image elements includes at least one scalar value.
 11. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of mapping the boundary of the melt pool includes: establishing a threshold value; comparing the measurement for each of the image elements to the threshold value; and defining each of the image elements which matches the threshold value to constitute a portion of the melt pool boundary.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the threshold value is a range having predetermined upper and lower boundaries.
 13. The method of claim 8, further comprising comparing the melt pool boundary to a template boundary of a melt pool template.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of controlling includes taking a discrete action in response to the comparison exceeding one or more predetermined melt pool limits.
 15. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of controlling includes changing at least one process parameter of the additive manufacturing process. 